Steering wheel structure



T. B. ROBERTS ET AL STEERING WHEEL STRUCTURE Nov. 16, 1937.

Filed June 8, 1957 Patented Nov. 16, 1937 insane STEERING WHEELSTRUCTURE Turney Roberts and William A. Howard, Memphis, Tex. saidHoward assignor to Howard S. Randal, Memphis, Tex.

Application Julie 8, 1937, Serial l lo 147,981

Claims.

This invention relates to a steering wheel structure designed primarilyfor farm tractors, but it is to be understood that the invention is tobe employed in any connection for which it may be 5 found applicable.

As is well known a farm tractor equipped with a pair of wheels on thetype of front axle now generally used or with a single front wheel, thetractor cannot be held out of the furrow after the land has been oncelisted or plowed and this is objectionable.

The invention aims to overcome and does overcome the foregoing objectionand to this end the invention resides in providing in a manner ture fora farm tractor whereby the latter can be held in line thereby making thetractor more easily held in control.

A further object of the invention resides in the disposing of the frontaxle of the tractor in a manner whereby the tires of the front wheels ofthe tractor will wedge together giving the latter the balance of atwo-wheel equipment and the traction surface effect of one wheel,whereby the front wheels wedging together hold each other in line sothat one or the other is not pulling up into the furrow, but each holdsthe other in line and which effect is of great value in any plowed orloose ground and isespecially effective in sandy land.

A further object of the invention is to provide in a manner ashereinafter set forth, a steering Wheel structure for farm tractorsincluding a pair of Wheels and a pair of front axles disposed atopposite inclinations for supporting the wheels in a wedge-like manner.

Further objects of the invention are to provide in a manner ashereinafter set forth, a steering wheel structure which is comparativelysimple in its construction and arrangement, strong, durable, compact,readily assembled, thoroughly efficient for the purpose intendedthereby, and comparatively inexpensive to set up. 7

With the foregoing and other objects in view, the invention consists ofthe novel construction,

combination and arrangement of parts as will be morespecifioally'described and are as illustrated in the accompanyingdrawing, wherein is shown an embodimentof the invention, but it is to beunderstood that changes, variations and modifications may be resorted towhich fall within the scope of the invention as claimed.

In the drawing:-- Figure 1 is a perspective view of a tractor showingthe adaptation therewith of a steering wheel as hereinafter set forth, asteering wheel struc-' 7 structure in accordance with this invention andwith the tractor arranged upon the simulation of a listed or plowed landand the position of the steering Wheel structure relative to a furrow,

Figure 2 is a front elevation ofa steering wheel 5 structure inaccordance with this invention,

Figure 3 is a front elevation of the steering wheel structure inaccordance with this invention, showing the position of the wheels ofthe said structure relative to a furrow, and V Figure 4 is afrontelevation illustrating the arrangement of a pair of front orsteering wheels now generally employed and with the position of suchsteering wheels relative to a furrow.

Referring to the drawing in detail, I generally indicates a farm tractorprovided with a rotatable steering post 2 to which is rigidly secured asteering wheel structure, in accordance with this'invention, generallyindicated at 3.. With reference to Figures 1 and 3, 4 indicates asimulation of a listed or plowed stretch of land formed with furrows 5.

'The steering wheel structure 3 includes a carrier it formed centrallytherethrough with a vertically disposed opening 1 which graduallyincreases in diameter from the bottom to the top of the carrier 6.Fixedly secured to the sides of the carrier 6 is a pairof oppositelyextending downwardly inclined axles 8, 9 upon which are revolublymounted and retained steering wheels lil, ll respectively. The tires ofthe wheels l8, H are indicated at l2, I3 respectively and-are resilient.The Wheels may be solid or of the pneumatic type. The pitch of the axles8, 9 is such to provide for the wheels Ill, ll extending towards eachother at an inclination from their upper ends and with their lowerportions in wedging or abutting engagement.

The post 2 has its lower terminal portion it gradually increasing indiameter from its lower end. The portion l4 extends through opening 1and has wedging engagement therewith. The portion I4 extends below thecarrier 6 and carries a washer l5 and a clamping nut it. The carrier 6and wheels I0, I I are bodily shifted with the post 2 V The arrangementof the carrier 6, wheels 10 and l l relative to the post 2 will achievethe advantages and functions in a manner as referred to.

With reference to Figure 4, a carrier l l is pro- 50 vided with a pairof oppositely disposed fixed axles l8 aligning throughout with thelongitudinal median of carrier l1. Upon the axles it are mounted thewheels l9. which are disposed in equi-distant spaced parallel relationwith respect to the post 2. The arrangement shown in Figure 4 is of aknown type and open to the objections heretofore referred to.

What we claim is:

1. In a steering wheel structure for farm tractors, a carrier adapted tobe secured to a steering post, a pair of oppositely extending downwardlyinclined axles fixed at their inner ends to said carrier, and a pair ofinner sidewise opposed oppositely inclined revoluble steering wheelscarried by said axles and having the successive lower portions of thefaces of the inner sides thereof, during the revolving of the wheels inpermanent wedging engagement.

2. In a steering wheel structure for farm tractors, a carrier adapted tobe secured to a steering post, a pair of oppositely extending downwardlyinclined axles fixed at their inner ends to said carrier, and steeringwheels carried by said axles and each extending at an inward inclinationfrom its top to its bottom, the pitch of said axles being such toprovide for said wheels wedging together to hold each other in a line sothat one or the other is not pulling up.

3. In a steering wheel structure for farm tractors, a carrier adapted tobe secured to a steering post, a pair of oppositely extending downwardlyinclined axles fixed at their inner ends to said carrier, steeringwheels carried by said axles and each extending at an inward inclinationfrom its top to its bottom, each of said wheels being provided with atire, and the pitch of said axles being such to provide said tireswedging together thereby giving the tractor the balance of a twowheelequipment and the traction surface effect of one wheel.

4. In a steering wheel structure for tractors, a pair of revolublymounted tired wheels disposed at opposite inward inclinations from theirupper portions, the pitch of the Wheels in relation to each other beingsuch to provide for the lower portions of the inner sides of the Wheeltires wedging together during the revolving of the wheels to give to thetractor the balance of a two-wheel equipment with the traction surfaceeifect of one wheel and with the wheels coacting to hold each other inline to prevent one or the other from pulling up into a furrow.

5. In a steering structure for farm tractors, said 7 structure includinga pair of revolubly mounted steering wheels, said wheels being somounted and so related with respect to each other to provide for thelower portions of their inner faces to wedgingly engage during therevolving thereof for holding the tractor in line to provide easytractor control, to give to the tractor the balance of a two-wheelequipment with the traction surface effect of one wheel; to have thewheels hold each other in line and to prevent one or the other of thewheels pulling up in a furrow.

TURNEY B. ROBERTS. WILLIAM A. HOWARD.

